How BULAN got it's name

BULAN SORSOGON

Bulan, officially known as the Municipality of Bulan, is a 1st class municipality located in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines It is nicknamed the "Fishing Capital of Bicol" and is recognized for hosting the Padaraw Festival. The town's motto is "Unhan Bulan."

Known as one of the Top Five Municipalities with the Highest Operating Income in Bicol, Bulan holds ISO accreditation, the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping from DILG, and other distinctions.Geographically, Bulan is situated at the southwesternmost tip of the Bicol Peninsula on Luzon Island, covering an area of 20,094 hectares. It serves as a vital center for trade and commerce in its region, consisting of 55 barangays and eight zones with a diverse population. Bulan is bordered by Magallanes to the north, Juban and Irosin to the east, Matnog to the south, and Ticao Pass to the west. It is approximately 667 kilometers from Manila, 63 kilometers from the provincial capital Sorsogon City, 20 kilometers from Irosin, and 30 kilometers from Matnog.

Long ago, the town of Bulan got its name through a fascinating legend. In the local Bulaneno dialect, "Bulan" had different meanings like the month of the year, the moon, or a luminary. According to a local historian named Valerio Zuñiga, the term's intrinsic sense, meaning a luminary, became widely accepted due to a historical event narrated by the old inhabitants of the town.

The tale goes that during a Spanish scouting expedition, sailors saw a big and beautiful moon from their ship near Otabi, and the natives who guided them expressed joy upon seeing it. In memory of this event, the Spaniards named the place "Bulan" when they landed. Another version involves two fishermen ashore, thinking the Spaniards asked about the full moon, and answering, "Bulan."

Historical records reveal the name's evolution from "Bililan" to "Builan," and eventually "Bulan."

In the pre-Spanish period, archeological evidence shows thriving communities along the coasts of Sorsogon, dating back to 4,000 B.C. The southernmost tip of Luzon, possibly including Bulan, displayed signs of civilization as early as 960 A.D., with excavations supporting these theories.

In oral mythology, Bulan gained significance as a place where the Moon deity descended from the heavens to bathe in the waters of Bicol. Some believed that the town, situated at the southwestern tip of the Bicol Peninsula, was named in homage to this lunar association. According to oral stories, the spot was considered enchanting, especially during the pale full Moon, believed to be where the lunar deity immersed in the pristine waters of Ubo Falls.

During the Spanish period in 1569, Captain Luis Enriquez de Guzman and Fray Alonzo Jimenez reached Sorsogon, finding a settlement believed to be Otavi. The town underwent various names like "Bililan" before officially becoming "Bulan" as a royal encomienda. The Franciscans began their work in 1583, establishing Gate as a visita of Bulusan. In 1690, "Builan" became a pueblo civil, and Gate was chosen as the town site.

However, Bulan faced challenges during the 19th century due to intense Moro raids. In 1746, a devastating Moro attack destroyed Gate, resulting in the plunder and destruction of Bulan. The town was abandoned, erased from maps for 55 years before reappearing and continuing its journey through history.